Chapter 002

Chapter 002

“Daddy!” a loud cheerful voice came out from Xiao’s little mouth, “Daddy!” as she ran towards a slouching figure, perhaps getting ready for the arrival of his daughter’s hug, “Daddy!”

“Xiao, my little girl,” a huge warm hug embraced Xiao’s tiny body. She’s turning eighteen in few months but her body still looked like an elementary student, “I’m so proud of you.”

Xiao refrained from the hug and faced her father with a huge smile, “I’m doing all of these because of you anyway. And for Mom, too,” she gleamed at the thought of mentioning her mother.

I miss Mom so much. I wanna see her already.

Yamato, on the other hand, seemed gloomy at the mention of his wife. Xiao noticed the sudden change of his expressions and she became concerned about it, “What’s wrong, Dad?”

“I’m sorry to tell you, Xiao, I think your mother couldn’t come today.”

“Eh, what? But why? She clearly said she’ll come today! We just called yesterday through Skypps!”

“She called me today. Before your competition,” Yamato couldn’t look at her daughter in the eye even though the little girl was trying to catch his attention.

“What did she say?”

“Something came up and so she couldn’t come,” now he looked at his child, caressing the back of her head, “don’t worry okay, I’ll make sure soon we’d be able to bond just the three of us. If not now, soon, okay?” he tried to reassure Xiao as he kissed the top of her head.

Xiao didn’t say anything in response which made Yamato feel so bad. I wanted to say something more just to make her feel better but how could I? Yamato thought in dismay.

“Now I know you’re tired, go get some rest and when you wake up, dinner’s ready for you. I’ll go make good food, okay?”

The girl didn’t respond even just a little as she went inside of her room, locked the door, and haphazardly threw her body onto the bed. She let out a huge sigh as she closed her eyes.

“It has been years since Mom left to China. I couldn’t even remember how she looked like. She’s only calling me without showing her face and I’ve been really wondering how is she doing already. She isn’t saying anything to me. All she says is that I should do well for my gymnast competitions because that’ll make grandfather proud of me.” Xiao whispered to herself, making small sighs after each sentences.

I don’t really understand my family. They’re such a mess. Everyone’s hiding something.

She realized by then that she’s living the life everyone wanted to have; a life full of fame, wealth and power. But it wasn’t really something she’s asking the heavens for herself. It’s a huge responsibility and it feels like a burden to her; she wanted to give up.

The days passed like the usual. With her daily routines and the likes. But this time around, her practice time takes longer than before as she’d be competing for the World Championship. It was the thing her Aunt Scarlet and her father were rambling about because she asked not to join for it as it was still such a huge competition for her. She’s still a rising star in artistic gymnastics and taking a leap towards World Championship was something she yet couldn’t fathom.

But here comes Scarlet Tatsunumi—her father’s half-sister—the one who decides over any matter, which makes Xiao aggravated because it feels like she’s manipulating everyone in Tatsunumi family. At a young age, Xiao already observed how her aunt acts and it wasn’t really a good attitude for her to manipulate everyone’s decisions, and sometimes she’s making up stories, making the family a huge mess.

One thing that Xiao abhorred about her aunt, and the only gravest thing she would never forgive, was because of her mother. Her aunt was the responsible person on why her mother couldn’t stay within Tatsunumi’s household, making her to fly back to China even though she has Xiao as her daughter.

A little drama was tricked and Scarlet Tatsunumi was the one who’s responsible for it. She accused Xiao’s mother having an affair with some other scientist in Tokyo, and she couldn’t believe how great her aunt’s acting was because she even managed to “fabricate” some evidences to just make her made up story to become real. Xiao thought she should have been rewarded as the most promising actress of the year.

In the end, Toshihiko Tatsunumi, Xiao’s grandfather, decided to kick Shuan—Xiao’s mother—out of the household. Xiao, at the very young age, couldn’t understand what was happening back then but right now she’s slowly gaining the knowledge and started being remorse towards her aunt. Since then, she acted differently towards her aunt and the latter might have noticed, making her to counter the attack—not directly to Xiao herself, but to her father. This was Xiao’s only theory as to why her aunt’s making up stories again about her father’s mistress. Xiao couldn’t stomach her aunt anymore but she couldn’t come to her grandfather, as well, as he’s currently bedridden. She didn’t want to add fuel to the fire. In the mean time, she’s thinking of some ways on how to get rid of her aunt. It’s silly to think that at a young age, her mind’s filled with something so outrageous already.

“So it’s final? Xiao, will you really be competing this year’s World Championship?” said Scarlet while slowly cutting the steak on her plate, “I saw the report on television,” as they were having a family dinner.

“Yes, it’s true,” Xiao replied nonchalantly, “it’s my decision, not Dad’s.”

“Well, you made a good decision for yourself. That’s good that you have a better outlook than your father.”

Xiao’s brow made a twitch. Obviously, her aunt was taunting her father and she couldn’t even talk back, just for the sake of respect. The fact that Scarlet’s age wasn’t even near to her father’s made Xiao’s blood boil, because apparently, her aunt’s really being disrespectful despite the age gap. It wasn’t really suitable and as much as Xiao wanted to say something about it, she wasn’t in the right place to do so.

“Anyway, as you’ve already been informed, Matsoto will be coming. It might have been a surprise to you both.”

Xiao, her aunt and her father were the only present ones during the dinner, but it was announced that Scarlet’s boyfriend will also be coming. When Xiao heard about it, it was a surprise to her since that would be the first time Scarlet’s boyfriend to join in the household, especially in a family dinner. Something might have come up as to why he’s certainly coming for today.

“So today, I’ll announce to you that I am officially engaged,” Scarlet chuckled, “gosh, I shouldn’t have said it right away. He isn’t still here.”

At the back of Xiao’s mind, she wanted to roll her eyes.

“But the door bell’s ringing, so I’m sure he’s already here,” Scarlet stood up, and strode her way towards the main door.

Basically, Scarlet Tatsunumi shouldn’t have been Xiao’s step-aunt if only her grandfather, Toshihiko Tatsunumi didn’t marry for the second time. If only Yurikawa Mashite-Tatsunumi didn’t die, no second marriage would have happened. Tatsunumi family would have reigned without being tainted, as what as it would’ve appeared. It’s being tainted now since he chose to marry someone who already have a child, and most specifically, from a Kwon blood. Kwons were known to be reigning since Joseon Dynasty and since Kwons were from different state, it was a great rivalry of Tatsunumis.

Scarlet’s father was the last Kwon in this era (from Joseon Dynasty reign) that died due to heart attack; and since Scarlet’s a girl, and an only child, the Kwons will still continue to prevail if she’ll bear a son. It might be one of the reasons as to why Toshihiko did the move to marry Jenny Kwon and legally adopt Scarlet in order for the name to change and Kwons will no longer prevail.

That’s how legacies are for them. Xiao had thought. She understood. But I’m still mad, why mother would have to undergo such embarrassment. She would never accept Scarlet Kwon as a Tatsunumi. 'Cause in the first place, she never belongs in here.